International law firm Gowling WLG has confirmed that Chris Towle will take over as Chief Executive Officer of its UK partnership in May 2026.
Towle, who joined the firm as a trainee in 2004, has built his career at Gowling WLG, becoming a partner in 2016. He currently leads the Birmingham Corporate team and co-heads the firm’s global US initiatives.
The leadership change will follow the planned departure of current CEO David Fennell, who will step down after 12 years in the role. Fennell’s tenure oversaw major developments, including the merger of Wragge & Lawrence Graham, the firm’s international combination with Gowling WLG (Canada) LLP, and the launch of offices in Frankfurt, Beijing, Shanghai, and Abu Dhabi.
Commenting on his appointment, Chris Towle said: “I’m deeply honoured and extremely excited to be taking on the role of CEO next year. I’ll be putting my full energy into delivering on our strategy for growth and our international ambitions – and enabling us to provide the very best experience for our clients.
“David has been a fantastic leader and has made a huge contribution to the firm. We are working closely together between now and May, and David will continue to be an excellent ambassador for our global firm and of great support to me.”
The transition marks the next phase of the firm’s growth strategy, with Towle set to focus on strengthening Gowling WLG’s UK operations and advancing its global expansion plans. His appointment follows the recent addition of Sarah Felger as Chief Operating Officer, signalling continued investment in leadership and international capability within the firm.
